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Multiple fundraisers planned for Ethan Murray

Events will raise funds for family of child in coma

By Joshua Kellogg The Daily Times

Updated:
05/27/2014 06:43:42 PM MDT

From left, Ty Benally, Bridget Becenti and other friends and co-workers of Crystal Roberts, hold candles earlier this month during a candlelight vigil prayer for Ethan Murray at Home Depot in Farmington. (Daily Times file photo)

FARMINGTON — Multiple events scheduled for this weekend are being organized to raise money for seven-year-old Ethan Murray and his family as the child recovers in a Albuquerque hospital from injuries suffered in a motor vehicle collision.

A benefit concert, motorcycle ride and crossfit challenge are three fundraisers planned for Saturday to benefit Murray and his family as they watch him recover at the University of New Mexico hospital in Albuquerque.

"It's awesome and I can't believe how many people are coming together to support him. The support is mind-blowing," stepfather Jason Roberts said.

Murray suffered a fractured skull, a broken jaw and lacerations to the back of his head after a vehicle he was riding in allegedly was rear-ended by a truck driven by Mihdi Bathke on May 11 near the intersection of Country Club Drive and East Main Street.

Bathke told officers he had taken prescription drugs about three hours before the incident, according to a criminal complaint filed in Farmington magistrate court.

Roberts was treated for a fractured vertebra, his wife, Crystal Roberts, suffered a broken arm and an 11-year-old female family member complained of pain in her lower back when they were admitted at San Juan Regional Medical Center.

Jason Roberts said Murray remains unconscious and sedated in a coma but is in stable condition.

Desiree Edney is one of the organizers of the "Music for Ethan" benefit concert Saturday at the McGee Park Outdoor Pavilion which will bring together six bands to raise funds for Murray's family.

Desiree is the wife of Paul Edney, the lead singer and guitarist for the band The Cooltones. Jason Roberts is the band's bassist.

"We love Jason and we've known him for a long time," Desiree Edney said. "He's like one of our own and we want to do what we can for the family."

The concert will feature a silent auction and a benefit ride which will start at FRMF Choppers and make stops in Farmington, Aztec and Bloomfield before ending at the benefit concert.

Miranda Dostaler, an organizer of the benefit ride, said ride participants will be given wristbands that will let them attend the concert after the motorcycle ride is over.

"It's a horrible story and it happened on Mother's Day and he's been in the hospital," Dostaler said. "Any kind of help for the family would help."

Animas Crossfit is hosting "Reps for Ethan" on Saturday, which is an informal athletic challenge for children, teenagers and adults, according to business co-owner Stephanie Hickey.

"We just heard the story and just me as a mother, I had to do something" Hickey said.

Hickey said teams of four will compete in each age group with the kids ages 7 to 12 competing in games, and teens ages 13 to 17 seeing who can do the most "reps" in a workout. Adults will have a crossfit-style competition.

Bathke, a former Farmington Fire Department firefighter, remains in the San Juan County Adult Detention Center as of Tuesday morning on a $150,000 cash-only bond.

San Juan County Chief Deputy District Attorney Dustin O'Brien said Bathke will have a preliminary hearing on June 4 at 8:30 a.m. in Farmington magistrate court on the charges stemming from the incident.

Bathke is facing a DUI charge along with two felony counts of great bodily injury by motor vehicle. He also faces a misdemeanor charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon for a handgun discovered in his truck following the incident.

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